Chusetts



` UNITED STATES Patented .Tanuary 19, 1904.

vPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. JOHNSON., OF REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES A. HEWES AND FRANK W. POTTER, OF MELROSE, MASSA- OHUSETTS.

C-.AFiMENT-BUCKLE.,l

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 749,995, dated January 19, 1904:.A I

Application filed November 16, 1903. Serial No. 181,315. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Revere, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Garment-Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a garment-buckle having one of its members so constructed as to form a receptacle for a picture, souvenir, money, or other thing of value.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa perspective view of my invention applied to Suspenders for clothing. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the line X X in Fig. 1, showing the casket closed. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a modication of the form shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the line Y Y of Fig. 3, showing the casket closed. l

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 5 is a suspenderbuckle, composed of the sheet-metal back 6 and the serrated tongue 7 pivoted together in the usual manner. 8 is the suspender-webbing, one end of which after passing through the buckle and forming a loop to inclose the suspender-end is extended through'the slot'10 in the back 6 of the buckle and stitched down to secure it thereto. Integral with the tongue 7 is one member 12 of a locket, casket, 0r box, to which is hinged at 13 the other member 14 of the box, and is provided with a springcatch 15, adapted to be received into the opening 16 to form a fastening. rAny ordinary form of fastening may be employed, or the members may be made to fit suiiiciently close to hold them together without the aid'. of the catch. While it would not be so secure, it is of course possible to dispense with the hinge and rely solely upon friction to hold the two members of the box together. 17 is a frame fitting snugly into the inside of the casket for the purpose of retaining a picture or portrait. This form of casket or buckle not only furnishes a novelty which is pleasing to the fancy of some persons for the purpose of carrying a picture, portrait, or souvenir in an obscure place, but it serves the purpose of aconcealed pocket or purse to carry anything of value.

I do not limit my invention to the particular forms or proportions shown. It maybe made in any shape or size and of any material. In Figs. land 2 I have shown the casket or box secured to and constituting a part of the tongue of the buckle. The arrangement may be of course reversed and the casket constitute the back of the buckle.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown aform of my invention which is adapted for a belt, garter, or other article worn around any lpart of the body. -In Figs. 3 and 4 the member 2O of the casket or box is made integral with or rigidly secured to the back 25 of the buckle, and the member 19 is hinged to the other at 26. There `are two tongues 24 24 to receive the ends of thestrap forming the belt, garter, or other similar article. 22 is a picture or portrait, and 21 a frame for holding the same in the member 20 of the casket. 18 is secured to the member 19 and is made to extend over and bind on the edge of the member 20.

It is obvious that a belt may be made of several straps connected together with buckles of this construction, alfording thereby a capacity The spring-latch for carrying a considerable amount of money l composed of two members, connected togetherl by a hinge so that one of said members is free to turn upon said hinge, the other member of said casket having an extension-piece rigidly secured thereto and forming .the tongue of a garment-buckle, combined with the complementary part of such buckle to form a garment-fastening.

said casket having an integral extension constituting the tongue of a suspender-buckle, said extension being' pivoted to a buckle-back having a longitudinal slot formed therein for securing the webbing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 14th dayvoi November, 1903.

WILLIAM H. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

HEnBERT W. TROWBRIDGE, A. G. SULLIVAN. 

